Sir Bobby, one of football's most revered ambassadors and a director of Sheringham's club Manchester United, was angry that he had been partying just days before the World Cup begins.

He said: "If the players don't have the common sense to be able to behave themselves and act in a reasonably proper manner then it's absolutely nonsensical to think we have a chance of winning the World Cup."

He also criticised Sheringham being pictured smoking, saying that top players should "think very seriously" about it.

The chief executive of the PFA Gordon Taylor says we've seen it all before

But there was support for Sheringham from the PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor, who said his performance would not be affected.

He said: "We have a culture where young men like to go out and stay up late, that doesn't mean to say they don't catch up on their sleep when it matters."

Sheringham was summoned by Hoddle just days after the England coach told players to spend three days at home after returning from their training camp in La Manga, Spain.

'Just a little fling'

The Football Association said it was also to investigate. A FA spokesman said: "We want to establish the facts before we can make any comment."

The report in Friday's edition of The Sun suggests that Sheringham, 32, had gone out on the town the day after the team left Spain. The report and pictures show the Manchester United striker drinking, smoking and cuddling a young woman when the players had been told to rest before their opening clash with Tunisia on June 15.

The player's father, Paul, told the newspaper: "It was just a little fling. After today he is back in training."